"We're in discussions on a daily basis with their representations," President and General Manager Don Waddell said last week.
Fleury tallied his first NHL goal on Oct. 18 in Anaheim but didn't see regular ice time in 2019. When Dougie Hamilton's season ended due to injury in mid-January, Fleury became a mainstay in the Canes' lineup. He finished the 2019-20 campaign with four goals and 10 assists (14 points) in 45 games and carried confidence into the playoffs, where he scored two goals and was a plus-4 in eight games.
"At the end of the day, everyone wants to play. Everyone has confidence in themselves and thinks they should play every night. For me, that wasn't the case at the start of the year," Fleury said during the postseason. "Roddy kept saying there's going to be an injury or there's going to be something that happens where we're going to need you every night. Unfortunately, Dougie got hurt, but that was kind of the start for me. I just tried to roll with that opportunity and take advantage of it."
CONTRACT TRACKER | OFFSEASON PLAYER TRACKER
Foegele has completed two seasons in the NHL, totaling 48 points (25g, 23a) in 147 games with the Canes. Despite playing nine fewer games in 2019-20, he improved in all statistical categories with 13 goals, 17 assists and 30 points.
Forward Jacob Pritchard and goaltender Callum Booth were not tendered qualifying offers, so they will both become unrestricted free agents on Friday, Oct. 9.
The following players are also pending unrestricted free agents: forwards Brian Gibbons, Max McCormick and Justin Williams, defensemen Trevor van Riemsdyk and Sami Vatanen and goaltender Anton Forsberg.
Van Riemsdyk, who has played in 206 regular-season games for the Canes since 2017, and Vatanen, who was acquired at the trade deadline, are among the top names in the group. Waddell last week didn't close the door on either returning if the price was right.
"It's fair that they test the market," Waddell said. "We've made it real clear that we like both guys, but we also understand that we're under a little bit more of a scrutiny with our salary cap."
Williams, meanwhile, has again not yet made a decision on his playing future.
"I don't have that answer. Ask Justin," Waddell laughed when asked recently about Williams' status. "Like we did last year, we left it in Justin's hands to take some time and make a decision on what he wants to do."
